Veronica doesn’t have family or friends nearby. Not that she knows about, anyway…And she has no idea where she’s going to leave her considerable wealth when she dies. After all, Veronica is almost eighty-six, and has to consider the dispersion of her considerable wealth after she departs this life. Not that there’s any sign of that happening: Veronica is hale and healthy, with an excellent memory, she continues to assure everyone (even if they know otherwise): “My memory is faultless. I can recall dozens of lines of Hamlet from my schooldays.”

Away with the Penguins by Hazel Prior - Penguin Books Australia Away with the Penguins by Hazel Prior - Penguin Books Australia

Veronica McCreedy, a resident of Scotland, ends up in Antarctica against the advice of scientists who warned her against it. She is well aware of her financial status and wields it to exert control over everyone around her, including, in some way, her pet penguin. The most captivating aspect of the book is undoubtedly the penguins. Is there anyone on this planet who doesn't adore penguins? I thought so. Every penguin-related element is incorporated into the narrative, making it genuinely intriguing. However, the same can be said about any well-produced documentaries about these fascinating creatures. Having lived through the war, Veronica believes amonster is lurking in all of us and that asmile can hide avillain. Do you think this is an unfair judgement of her lived experience or the truth? This is a beautiful novel about self-discovery and you the reader will go on a journey with our character who has a big heart despite the sadness from her past and although she may be a bit cranky at times, you want to make sure that her dream comes true. A gorgeously written and well researched story that really makes Hazel Prior a great storyteller.The characters in the story are well-developed, and the plot flows seamlessly. The story highlights strong independent women as role models, while the antagonists are primarily portrayed as white males or individuals guided by religious dogmas. Veronica teaches scientists about the importance of love, family, and bonding. Yes, she becomes their savior. It was a little far-fetched to me. But before she commits, she decides that she needs to visit the research station and get to know the people she's leaving her money to (much to the researcher's, her housekeeper's and her grandson's horror). And the writing, itself, is to die for. The novel is elegantly written; Prior’s prose is gorgeous. Every word is a joy to read.

Away with the Penguins by Hazel Prior – The Last Word Book Review Away with the Penguins by Hazel Prior – The Last Word Book Review

Planning to buy Away with the Penguins for your group? Buy books from Hive and support The Reading Agency and local bookshops at no extra cost to you.The abrasive 86-year-old millionaire occupant of stately seaside mansion the Ballahays, Aryshire, Scotland, is a woman of stentorianly articulated firm opinions who knows her own mind and isn’t afraid to say what she thinks.

Away with the Penguins by Hazel Prior | Goodreads Away with the Penguins by Hazel Prior | Goodreads

A note for animal lovers: There is one brief scene of bird-on-penguin violence that may be disturbing. A fiction novel (US Title: "How the Penguins Saved Veronica") introduces Veronica McCreedy, a fussy but charming old woman who doesn’t know to whom she's going to leave her considerable wealth after she dies since her estranged grandson is not an option. The book was selected with the help of a panel of library staff from across the UK. Our readers loved Away with the Penguins – here are some of their comments:

Recommended Reading: Away with the Penguins

So, now's the time to get a lot of those end-of-life things out of the way. Like where her vast fortune would go. This is my second Hazel Prior book and I really enjoy her quirky character driven stories. Veronica is in her seventies, living on her own, and has lived a life marked by stark loneliness and tragedy. She has no one left. No family. Except… she discovers, she does. A long lost grandson she never knew about is discovered, and the book delves into his life, into her past coming of age during WW2, and a mission to Antarctica to be with the penguins (which was my favorite part of the book—penguins, so adorable.) A quote from the book: "There are three types of people in the world: those who make the world worse, those who make no difference, and those who make the world better." The time spent there is challenging at first, not everyone was on board with her decision in coming there. She can be found either collecting litter from the beach ('people who litter the countryside should be shot'), trying to locate her glasses ('someone must have moved them') or shouting instructions to her assistant, Eileen ('Eileen, door!').

Away with the Penguins: The heartwarming and uplifting

TW: This depicts Penguins in their natural environment-and as in life, not all Penguins live long lives. Then one day Veronica makes a fateful decision, one that will have a significant impact on her life going forward. Two days later I am still sitting here. We haven’t been able to venture outside at all. It is mind-numbingly tedious and suffocatingly claustrophobic. I miss the earth, the air, the sky. I miss the penguins. I can’t stand Mike any more, can’t stand Dietrich and at times I even can’t stand Terry. She can be found either collecting litter from the beach ('people who litter the countryside should be shot'), trying to locate her glasses ('someone must have moved them') or shouting I highly recommend this one, as I enjoyed learning about these beautiful creatures, and only wish that I had discovered it sooner!I want to express my sincere thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Random House Canada for this wonderful, heartfelt ARC. This delightful gem of a book will take its place high on my favourite list. This is my second reading of this enjoyable book which also has an alternate title, Away With the Penguins. The author writes with compassion and insight into the human heart, especially its good and kind parts in human nature that are redeemable. I loved the characters and its setting. There were sections that made me cry, parts where I was laughing out loud. I found it pleasurable and also thought-provoking.